Early start for hounds at Langholm Common Riding

Hey Mac with Gillian and Neil Brown and Derek Bulman

As usual there was an early start at the 2025 Langholm Common Riding, where 21 hounds were slipped at 7.30am.

Last year’s winner Eagle Love wasn’t there to challenge but her kennel mates were entered to try and bring the trophy back.

Sportsman, for Willie and Craig Mark, was the favourite, given his recent form.

As the hounds were slipped visibility was slightly limited but Dundee for Neil and Gillian Brown, and Derek and Joel Bulman got away to a great start with Eagle Girl for Linda Neale, Mark, Josh and Georgia Bryden in second.

Discover for Anna and Kerry Lindsay in third, followed by Eagle Rock for Linda Neale, Mark, Josh and Georgia Bryden; Flightline for Sarah White and Hey Mac for Neil and Gillian Brown, and Derek and Joel Bulman.

When reports came in from the first road, 14 hounds were racing on well in a line but it was litter mates Hey Mac and Embrace for Laura Steele, Andrew and Joel Bulman and Ian Rumney who were leading from Senor for Malcolm Holmes.

They were leading Sportsman, Eagle Girl and Meadow Artisan for Paul and Joanne Airey.

When reports were received from the second road, kennel mates Dundee and Hey Mac had established an advantage over Senor, Embrace, Discover and Eagle Girl.

The hounds can then be seen by spectators as they cross the top of the fell and there were 15 hounds in a line, with Dundee still leading from Mel for Les and Graham Reid and Ellie Napier.

As they turned down off the end of Castle Hill it was Hey Mac who was back in front from Senor but the hounds then had a little bit of a scale.

However Hey Mac still managed to stay in the lead as they went out of sight.

When they crossed the last road kennel mates Hey Mac and Dundee were racing each other from Meadow Artisan, Discover, Mel and Senor.

The hounds have a big climb up before they appear onto the finish and it can either make or break the race for some owners and hounds.

When they showed on the finish, a group of 11 had developed an advantage with the first two around 10 yards ahead of the chasing pack.

Hey Mac and Dundee had a really good race up to the line and looked as though they were coming to finish first and second but Dundee put in a circle to wreck his chance and he eventually finished in seventh.

It left Hey Mac to claim the win much to the delight of Gillian as she has always wanted to win the Langholm Common Riding trail.

Sportsman finished second with the three-year-olds taking the rest of the tickets.

Senor in third claimed the first maiden prize; Peggy Sue for Gillian Brown and Micky O’Brien was fourth and collected the second maiden prize while Discover in fifth was the third maiden while the final ticket went to Senorita for Malcolm Holmes.

Senor, Discover and Senorita are all bred by Malcolm Holmes out of Sweet Harmony and Sir Robert.